Positively Pasta lends a hand to help storm victims

POTTSTOWN — More than six months after Hurricane Sandy devastated much of the New Jersey coast, many residents and businesses are still working to get back into their homes or get their businesses up and running.

Positively Pasta has joined a delicious national effort to help raise much needed relief money for victims of Hurricane Sandy — National Dine Out Day. On June 19, participating restaurants will be donating a portion of their proceeds in support of the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund. New Jersey’s First Lady, Mary Pat Christie, chairs the fund and is leading the efforts for the National Dine Out Day program.

Positively Pasta, owned by Karen and Chris Foster, has joined the effort. The restaurant will be serving breakfast and lunch as usual June 19. As a special treat, dinner has been added to the day’s offerings, featuring “Jersey Fresh,” foods in season in New Jersey right now. And a portion of the proceeds from the entire day will be donated to the relief fund.

“It seems as though mostly the bigger companies are ones that are going to be contributing, but we thought there’s no reason why the small independent can’t contribute also,” said Karen Foster. “I can’t imagine — I can’t fathom what those people have been through.”

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For the Fosters, there is a definite personal connection to the effort. New Jersey’s First Lady Mary Pat Christie is Chris Foster’s sister. And while they want to support her, Karen Foster said it’s also a good cause. The connection to the Jersey shore goes much deeper.

“We have enjoyed the Jersey shore ourselves for many years. And we do deliver pasta to certain locations in New Jersey and we have had a loss of business because of damage that was done on Long Beach Island to one of our accounts,” Foster added.

Foster said that customer in Long Beach Island has not yet resolved her issues. In addition to that client, Positively Pasta works with several distributors in New Jersey.

Chris Foster has discovered the produce and seafood that is in season in New Jersey and has structured a dinner menu around the state’s long-time motto for its agriculture. “Jersey Fresh” was launched in 1984 as an advertising, promotional and quality grading program and to help New Jersey farmers inform consumers about the availability and variety of fruits and vegetables grown in New Jersey.

“He’s going early in the week to a market in Trenton where he knows he can get these items. It will be his first visit. They will have some of their produce that’s available right now; beets, asparagus, peas, blueberries, strawberries, spinach, chicken, beef and then Jersey seafood that we will be featuring,” Karen Foster added.

Breakfast and lunch at Positively Pasta on June 19 will feature some of the restaurant’s typical menu items. It’s at dinner where Chris Foster will feature the New Jersey foods.

Some of the items on the special dinner menu may include:

Roasted Red and Yellow Beet Salad

Bay Scallops with Angel Hair Pasta

Swordfish Lasagna

Chicken with Fresh Corn and Tomato Salsa

Cherry Tarts

Jersey Strawberry Shortcake

Positively Pasta will be serving breakfast June 19 from 7 to 11 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. Reservations are requested for dinner, but will be accepted for any meal throughout the day.

“If you know you have a certain amount of time, it might be best to make a reservation. We expect to be busy. We do deliver lunches around town and part of those proceeds are part of the proceeds that will be donated from the day. They can still support this benefit by ordering out and having our delivery man bring it to them,” Foster said.

Positively Pasta has been manufacturing pasta for 26 years, and has been located at 115 High Street in Pottstown for the past 12 years.

For information about Positively Pasta’s efforts or to make a reservation call 484-945-1007 or follow them on Facebook. For more information about National Dine Out Day and the Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund can visit www.nationaldineoutday.com or www.sandyrelieffund.org.

According to its website, the Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund supports organizations that aid in the recovery and rebuilding efforts of New Jersey communities impacted by the storm, which impacted more than 140,000 small businesses. To date, $34 million has been raised from more than 28,000 donors worldwide. In addition, 51 grants totaling $11 million have been awarded, to help families, businesses and communities.

Other Pennsylvania restaurants participating in National Dine Out Day June 19 include Firebirds in Collegeville, Erie and Chadds Ford; Emeril’s Chop House, Emeril’s Italian Table and Burgers and More by Emeril, all in Bethlehem.

About the Author

Donna Rovins is business editor of The Mercury, developing, writing, planning and executing the daily local Business section. Reach the author at drovins@pottsmerc.com
or follow Donna on Twitter: @mercbiz.